Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8C Monterosa
The Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8C Monterosa was a prototype car, designed in secret during World War II, of which between three and six were manufactured by Isotta Fraschini.
The Tipo 8C Monterosa cars were built between 1945 and 1949 with development having begun as early as 1943. The model was intended to be Isotta Fraschini's initial post-war offering once normal industrial activity resumed. The Tipo 8C would be Isotta Fraschini's first new model since production of the Tipo 8B ended in 1934 after which all activities were limited to military rearmament/war production by the National Fascist Party in power.
Design and development
The Tipo 8C Monterosa is equipped with a water-cooled rear mounted 3,400 cc overhead valve V8 engine equipped with cylinder heads featuring hemispherical combustion chambers. A four-speed transaxle is operated via a cable linkage and steering column-mounted shifter. The Aurelio Lampredi-designed engine develops an output of and is capable of propelling the car to a top speed of, with an average consumption of. The engine, gearbox, and differential were largely constructed from Elektron light-metal alloy.The initial design used a three-litre engine developing ; a 2.5-litre version with the same power was planned to be produced as well.
The chassis is cross-platform and supports the front wheel independent, transverse arms swinging, resilient rubber and hydraulic shock absorbers, while at the rear, independent suspension with hydraulic shock absorbers and longitudinal and transverse elements with elastic rubber. The brakes are four-wheel hydraulic drums. Hydraulic jacks activated from the dashboard were in all four wheel wells.